Just down the street from Jacques Selosse, the estate where I stayed during my last trip to Champagne, is the Varnier-Fannière estate. It is small, but formidable. With 10 acres of vines, averaging 45 years of age, in Avize, Oger, Oiry and Cramant, this estate has been producing outstanding wines for the last 30 years. Comprised of 100% Chardonnay, the Cuvée Saint Denis Brut is one of the best Blanc de Blancs we tasted at a recent Champagne tasting. “There is a more rounded approach with the NV Champagne Cuvée Saint Denis Brut, with lemon curd, pastry cream, and baked green apples. This continues to the palate, with a rounded sweetness of apple pie, yellow flowers, and a broadness and expansiveness on the palate. This might be my favorite in the range, as it is balanced in its opulence and has a lot of decadent charm. Drink now or over the next 10-15 years.” -Jeb Dunnuck.